Topic 5 - Solar system observation

• what is the ecliptic?

  the orbital plane of the earth around the sun OR

  the path the sun appears to take around the earth
• the celestial equator is tilted how much to the ecliptic?

  23.5 degrees
• the other planets do not follow the ecliptic exactly, but rather have a difference of about a degree or two , this difference is called?

  inclination
• as the sun follows the ecliptic is crosses 13 constellations, these are called the?

  zodiac
• the band that stretches all around the sky, 8 degrees either side of the ecliptic is known as the...?

  zodiacal band
• at the vernal equinox the sun travels from...?

  south to north
• when will the sun be travelling from north to south?

  autumnal equinox
• The point at which the sun on the ecliptic crosses the celestial equator at the vernal equinox is known as...?

  the first point of aries
•  Where the sun crosses the equator at the autumnal equinox it is known as..?

  the first point of libra
• due to precession the first point of Aries is now in...?

  Pisces
• why is thee first point of Aries now in Virgo?

  precession
• mercury and venus are examples of..?

  inferior planets
• mars, jupiter, saturn, uranus and neptune are ..... planets?

  superior
• what is conjunction?


  refers to when a planet is infront or behind the sun as viewed from earth
• when the earth is positioned between a planet and the sun, what takes place?

  opposition
• the angle observed from the earth between the direction to the sun and the direction to a planet is known as the...?

  elongation
• what is a transit?


  the passing of one celestial object in front of another larger body
• when one celestial object is covered by another this is known as...?

  occultation